Does anyone else hate the term "soundstage" ?

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#81
Hi Bob,
I'm interested if you've any particular reference material about frequency ranges vs our stereo perception (phase vs amplitude). Its something I'd like to look into.

tvrgeek,
tvrgeek said:
If you could get some university lab that can do laser inferometry, you would be able to see how the dashes are managing the cone resonances. I would love to see it. We know it works, we know about what it is doing, but pictures would be very informative. Sounds like a great project for some physics masters student.
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I can't promise anything, but will ask around.

Chris
 
#83
A Brief Guide to Audio for the Skeptical Consumer | Numeral Nine Music and Audio Blog
“Every low-distortion electronic signal path sounds like every other. The equipment reviewers who hear differences in soundstaging, front-to-back depth, image height, separation of instruments, etc., etc., between this and that preamplifier, CD player, or power amplifier are totally delusional. Such differences belong strictly to the domain of loudspeakers.” – Electronic Signal Paths Do Not Have a Personality! @ The Audio Critic
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That is simple bigotry on your part, nothing else. When I talk about Soundstage, I know exactly what I mean and what I want to say. That fact that someone may not understand it has nothing to do with my understanding or intent.
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Words are the currency of thought; without a common currency, there can be no exchange of thought. If you have your own private currency, it is of no use to anyone, including yourself.

wow, you guys must have really nice clock radios
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No, not at all. It was a sarcastic comment regarding the capacity of plastic PC speakers to render some mystical "soundstage".
 
#85
JoeDJ said:
I seems that if you ask ten people what soundstage means you will get ten somewhat different answers.

What happened to the terms like distortion, dynamic range, flat response, and such ?

Sound stage seems to be a catch all term for everything and means nothing.......except the reviewer does not know what else to say except they sound nice ......and says "they have good sound stage"........ or....... have bad sound stage.
However no one seen to care or know why they might be good or bad.

I've heard people say that their 2 inch computer speakers had good soundstage.🙄
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JoeDJ said:
OK...... explain how you get good sound stage . That was my original point.
Some people just keep explaining soundstage without explaining how to get it.

It's like saying in a recipe that a good cake is tasty but then, never giving the ingredients in the recipe to make it tasty. It's s not at all helpful even if you explain tasty " until the cows come home"

BTW, I 'm sorry if Iopened open a can of worms. I did not mean to but, what has has be said so far illustrate my point to one extent or another . .🙂
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Hmmm I think the original point was that you hate the term soundstage, because in your opinion it is a vague catchall that reviewers like to use when they don't know what else to say. I see no hint of asking how to achieve a good soundstage. That may have come later of course 🙂

Put up a fairly generic statement around here, and expect there to be plenty who will chime in on the topic 😉

Tony.
 
#87
Frankly I don't 'mind' the term........My take, is the illusion that manifests itself, into one believing, thru their ears, that there is specific room size (Stage). I tend to believe a lot of the sound-stage illusion is "manufactured" at the mixing board. I would tend to think a particular listening room would have to be "dead" as reflections off walls might very well "clash" with the intended effects....& the upshot being, the illusion falls apart.
We all know a well put together small three piece ensemble in a "cozy" club has its own distinctive sound......as such this "club" could easily be reproduced in the home.
It is hard to put a finger on this....


_____________________________________________________Rick...........
 
#88
Absconditus said:
No, not at all. It was a sarcastic comment regarding the capacity of plastic PC speakers to render some mystical "soundstage".
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The simple truth is that all systems are capable of throwing up impressive soundstages - if they don't then a suitable analogy can be of a flat car tyre - no matter how expensive it was, who made it, and how hard and fast you keep pumping air into it - as long as the hole remains unfixed then that tyre will do a pretty miserable job at what it's supposed to be for ...
 
#90
I've been playing with with lower and lower cost gear over many years, and have always been able to extract the soundstage effect in the end. Ergo, systems unless deliberately totally crippled should be able to do it; the components within are inherently good enough to get the job done, so what is required is for someone to troubleshoot the setup, and resolve the limiting factors ...
 
#95
fas42 said:
So I could visit your system . . . and it would sound 'better' than that live experience?
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No, which was precisely the point I was making. I am not into audio, but hi-fi.

Pano said:
That is simple bigotry on your part, nothing else. When I talk about Soundstage, I know exactly what I mean and what I want to say.
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I think 'bigotry' is a trifle strong.

The main point of words is to convey information to others, not to oneself. Using a word with a private meaning does not convey information.
 
#96
Pano said:
I agree Bob. I find it valid term, if not an exact one.

JoeDJ's objection seems to be mostly with how the term is now used in marketing, that all.
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That's basically it,
Soundstage is used in lieu of publishing any real meaningful specs so a consumer can make an educated choice .
That results is the progressive ignorance among the general public through the years about what is important for for realistic playback..... yes, good sounddstage.

BTW, that term may have come into use 30 years ago but I go back further than that..

I feel like I should ask ,"who's on first" ? 🙂
 
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#100
Is it possible to define "soundstage" objectively by measuring frequency response of a speaker system on and off-axis? So, as an example, show a FR graph with 0, 30 and 60 degrees to illustrate the soundstage, instead of just subjectively describing it in vague terms, as we know how our ears can be fooled.

To me, drivers that have good off-axis responses tend to me more "spatial" and have better "soundstage". Would my assumptions be accurate?

Hong
 
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